Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown narrowly avoided an interim suspension of his law license after failing to respond on time to an ethics complaint tied to his office’s relationship with Democratic law firm Perkins Coie. The complaint, filed with the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA), alleges Brown improperly signed an amicus brief supporting Perkins Coie while his office held active contracts with the firm.
The Center Square first reported that the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) had an ongoing contract with Perkins Coie when it filed the amicus brief backing the firm in a legal battle with President Donald Trump. Later reporting revealed Perkins Coie had at least ten active contracts with the AGO at that time. None were disclosed in the filing.
The WSBA demanded Brown submit a preliminary written response within 30 days of its May 13 letter. By June 13, Brown had not replied. A follow-up letter warned that continued silence could result in subpoenas, fines, and even suspension under WSBA rules. Despite a second deadline of July 16, Brown still failed to submit a response.
Only after The Center Square contacted the WSBA in mid-August did Brown—through Solicitor General Noah Purcell—finally reply. Purcell, a Perkins Coie alum who helped draft the amicus brief, dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” insisting the AGO had “no interest in preserving Perkins’s ability to contract with the federal government.”
Documents obtained by The Center Square suggest deeper coordination, including AGO attorneys offering Perkins Coie advice on when and where to file suit. Internal communications related to the case have since been redacted by the AGO under litigation exemptions, a decision upheld despite appeal.
Brown, a former U.S. Attorney for Western Washington, was elected attorney general last year. The ethics investigation remains ongoing.
